I.
Overview

Ruled by Bharatiya Janata
Party (BJP), Chhattisgarh witnessed sharp increase of custodial
deaths. There were reports of 11 deaths in police lock up
during June-December 2004. On 24 November 2004, Home Minister
Brijmohan Agrawal justified the custodial deaths by stating
that 13 custodial deaths had taken place during the Congress
rule; but the administration took little action.

The radical Left-wing armed opposition group, also
called Naxalites, are reportedly active in eight districts
out of total sixteen districts, mainly in the tribal areas.Many tribals have been allegedly arrested under false
cases as Naxalites.

While violence against women
has been rampant, atrocities against the Dalits by the upper
caste Hindus continued unabated.

The condition of jails in
the state remained deplorable. K.A. Jacob, Chairman of the
State Human Rights Commission of Chhattisgarh admitted unbearable
and sub-human condition of Chhattisgarh jails, which were
overcrowded and infested with diseases like tuberculosis.